Button-feeding machine.



'P. EBY & 1. A. CARBON. BUTTON FEEDING MACHINE.

APPUCATION FILED FEB. 2M IQIM I Y Patented Aug. 21,1911

,M 15 3 5 M11217 w l/ubbvmjm Mu aha) UNITED sTAtrEs PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP any AND JAMES A; cannon, or noonns'rnn, new YORK, nssmnons 'ro GERMAN-AMERICAN nn'rron COMPANY, on nocnns'rnn, npw Yonx, A con-v ronn'rron on NEW YORK.

BUTTON-FEEDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Au 21, 1917.

Application filed February 24, 1914: Serial No. 820,522.

the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine that will. facilitate l11SP8Cl 10I1 of buttons or button blanks or the inspectlon of the stock pieces from which the buttons are to be made.

Another object of the invention 15 to provide a machine that will receive the blanks or the buttons in a plurality of positions and turn them to a uniform position.

These and other objects of the invention will. be fully illustrated in the drawings, described in the specification and pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved machine. I

Fig. 2 is a vertical. section on the line 2-2" of Fig. 1.. Y

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the hue 3-3" of Fig. 1.

t is a vertical section on the line i 4" of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 1n- 'dicates the frame of the machine, having the bearings 2 and 3 at each of the opposlte ends thereof in whicl jbearings are support ed the shafts 4 and On the shaft 4 is the drum 6 having a uniform diameter which drum is keyed to the shaft and turns with it. On the shaft 5 is the drum 7 keyed to the shaft which drum is of large diameter and adjacent to it is the drum 8 of smaller diameter which drum is mounted to turn loosely on the shaft. Mounted to travel on the drum 7 is the belt 9 which substantially of the same width as the drum This belt passes over the drum 6 and drives it. The drum 6 is as long as the combined length of the drums 7 and 8. Also mounted to pass over the drum 6 ls the belt 10 which belt is driven by the drum 6. This belt extends to the opposite end of the machine and passes over the drum 8 which is driven thereby. The top portion of the belt 9 mm els iinasingle plane, preferably horizontal,

and is held to travel in a single plane by upper one will dro the plate 11 which is supported from the frame of the machine. The belt 10 is mounted to travel in two Iplanes, one parallel'to or coincident with t e plane of the belt 9 and the other at an angle thereto and to secure this relation between the belts, the belt 10 is supported by the plate 12 which has an. angle therein as is shown in Fig. 4.

Secured to the frame of the machine is the guide 13 having a flange 14 on the top thereof which guide is placed diagonally across the belt 9.

Mounted to feed on the forward end of the belt rs-tbe chute 15 from which the buttons or the blanksare fed onto the belt. The flange 16 is placed along the far side of the belt 9 for the purpose of holding the blanks on the belt. Mounted on this flange is a finger 17. This finger is mounted so as to have a fixed amount of clearance between it and the belt sufficient to permit a blank to pass with the belt thereunder in either its upright .01 inverted position. If

two or more blanks are piled on top of each,

other, the under one will pass through and the upper one will be restrained until the lower one has passed from under when the to the belt and pass through properly. eyond the finger 17 is placed. a guide 18 mounted on the frame of the machine and held nearly in contact with the belt 9. This guide terminates short of the flange 16 so as to have somewhat more than suflicient room for the passage ofa blank between the end of the guide and the flange. The guide 18 extends diagonally across the belt and causes the blanks to be moved toward the flange 16 as the belt moves. Mounted on the flange 16 are thia fingers 19 andv20 which fingers are preferably of thin strips of metal, the forward side of the fingers 19 and 20 having sliarp vertical surfaces. These fingers rest lightly on the belt 9.-

The operation of this part of the machine may now be described. as follows:

The blanks are fed from the chute 15 onto' the belt 9 which belt is moving continuously in the direction indicated by the arrow. in Fig. 1. The flange 16 prevents the blanks from flying oil the belt. As the belt 9 moves forward it carries the blanks with it. The

finger 17 levels off the blanks so that all of ward the flange 16. The blanks are then carried against the fin ers 19 and 20. If the blanks are inverterfi that is with their flat surfaces up, as is shown in Fi 2, they will ass over the fingers 19 and 20, keeping their inverted position, displaying the1r flat surfaces u ward. If the flat surface is down, they wi 1 be caught by the fingers 18 and 19 and will move toward the left hand side of the belt and away from the flange 16. When they reach the left hand side of the belt they will drop off onto the belt 10 and in dropping off will turn over, as is shown in Fig. 3, so that all ofithe blanks will then be in inverted position.

The blanks that remain on the belt 9, will be carried against the guide 13 which will deflect them onto the belt 10 leaving them in their inverted position, it being understood that the belts are traveling in the same plane at the end of the guide 13 while they are in different planes, traveling at an angle to each other at the ends of the fingers 19 and 20. a i

As the belt 10 advances, the blanks are carried forward and are open to the inspection of the operator of the machine.

Buttons are made from stock out from vegetable ivory nuts, shells of shell fish, bone and many other hard substances. These substances are first cut into blanks and in the case of yegetable ivory, these blanks will ordinarily have a flat side that shows the white interior of'the nut and a rounded side that shows the weathered side of the nut. The quality of the material will appear in the flat side of the nut and this machine is for the purpose of turning all the flat sides up so' that they can be carried forward under the eye of the operator who can sort them according to their grade or quality. For this purpose the horizontal surface of the belt 9 between the end of the guide 13 and the drum 6, is provided on which surface the blanks are displayed to the operator. On one side of thelbclt 9 is rovided the chute 21 and on the opposite si( e of the belt 1 is provided the chute 22. The operator wil push the blank into the chute 21 or 22 as may be desired or let it rest on the belt 10 or move it to the belt 9. The blanks that are permitted to rest on the belts 9 and 10 will be carried to the end of the belts at the drum 6, from which they will pass ofl into the chutes 23 and 24. In this manner, the blanks will be separated into four different grades with a vcrylittle movement on the part of the operators fingers, enabling the operator to work with greater speed and efficiency.

' It will be understodd of course, that a few of the blanks will get to the operators fingers with the weathered side up, but in the ordinary operation of the machine, these constitute such a small fraction of in, belt of a stationary thetota] number of blanks, that the operator canturn them over manually and make the yoke 25 in which is mounted the shaft 26 on which is mounted the roller 27. Swiveled On the frame of the machine at 28 is an adjusting screw 29 having a male thread thereon which works in a female thread carried on the yoke 25 at 30. A similar adjusting screw may be provided on the opposite side ofthe machine. B these screws the yoke 25 may be. set at any esired angular position. The swinging of the yoke, carries the roller 27, against the lower side of the belts 9 and 10 and takes up the slack therein.

At the end of the belts 9 and 10 and over the drum 6 is placed the deflecting finger 31 which may be turned to any angle to suit the convenience of the operator so that the blanks froma portion of the belt 10 may be deflected into the chute 23 or the blanks from a portion of the belt 9, may be deflected into the chute 24 or the finger may be set on line with the meeting edges or the, belt. i

'It will also be noticed that the belt 9 is considerably wider than the belt 10. The belt 10 is of such width as to present the blanks conveniently in a sin le row to the operator. The belt 9 is broa so as to give ample working surface thereon for the me chanical manipulation of the blanks at the forward end of it.

\Vhile this machine is described as a ma- (hine for working on buttons and button blanks, these terms'are used only for convenience, it being understood that the machine can be used for feeding any other substances on which it will work in substant; :ly the same manner.

I claim:

1. In a machine for feeding buttons or button blanks, the combination of a traveling belt of a stationary finger mounted over said belt and in contact therewith, said finger being thin and adapted to let buttons baring rounded bottoms pass over it, but arresting those. that have fiat bottoms.

2. In a machine for feeding buttons or button blanks. the combination of a travelfinger mounted over said belt and in Contact therewith, said finger being thin and arrc'stipg those that have flat bottoms, said finger being placed diagonally to the line of the belt and adapted to move transversely of the belt, all buttons arrested thereby. I

3. In a machine for feeding buttons, the combination of a traveling belt, of a seri i adapted'to let buttons having rounded bottoms pass over it, but;

of stationary fin ers mounted over said belt and in contact t erewith, said fingers be ng thin and adapted to let buttons having rounded bottoms pass over them, but arresti those that have fiat bottoms.

4. l n a machine for feedin buttons, the combination of v a traveling be t, of a ser1es of stationary fin ers mounted over and belt and in contact t rewith, said fingers being thin and adapttul to let buttons having rounded bottoms pass over them, but arrest in those that have flat bottoms, said fingers being placed diagonally to the line of the belt'and adapted to move, transversely of the belt, all buttons arrested thereby.

5. In a machine for feeding buttons, the combination of a travelin belt, a stationary finger mounted over the therewith, said finger being arranged d1- agonally to the ,line of travel of t e belt andextending from one side of the belt to within a "short distance of the other side of the belt, and being ada ted to move all buttons to the one side 0 the belt beyond the end of the finger leaving the buttons on the belt to move therewith.

6. In a. machine for feedin buttons, the combination of a traveling elt, a thick stationary finger mounted over the belt and in contact therewith, said finger being arran ed dia onally to the line of travel of the elt an 'being ad pted to move all buttons to tone side of the belt, asecond stationary finger mounted over the belt and in contact therewith, said fin r being thin and adapted to let buttons aving rounded bottoms pass over it, but arresting those that have fiat bottoms.

7 In a machine for feedin buttons, the combination of a traveling filelt, a thick stationary finger mounted over the belt and in, contact therewith, said finger being arra'n 'eddia onally to the line of travel of the'fiielt an being adapted to move all butto to one side of thebelt, a second statio ary finger mounted over the belt and in .contact therewith, said finger being thin and apted .to let buttons having rounded ottoms pass over it, but arresting those that have flat bottoms, said thin finger being placed diagonally to the line of the belt and inclined in the opposite direction to the first finger and bein adapted to move to the edge of the belt all uttons arrested thereby.

8. In a'machine forfeedin combination of a pair of trave ing belts, one of said belts travelin in a single lads and the second belt trave in in two p anes, one parallel to and on a leve with and the other at an angle to the line of travel of-the first named belt. I .11; a machine for feedin buttons the .comninatibn of a pair of tr'ave ing belts one of said belts travelin in a single lane and the second belt trave ing in two p anes, one.

it and contact buttons the parallel to and on a level .with and the other at an angle to the line of travel of the first named belt, means for pushin buttons from the first belt to the second lielt while the belts are at an angle to each other and when they are parallel to each other.

10. In a machine for fcedin buttons the combination ofa pair of traveling belts, one of said .belts travelin in a single plane and the second belt trave ing in two anes, one parallel to and on a evel wit: and the other at an an dc to the line of travel of the first namei belt, means for )ushing buttons having fiat bottoms oil the first named belt, permitting them to drop on the second belt and turn over while so doing.-

11. In a machine for fcedin r buttons, the combination of a pair of traveling belts, one of said belts trai'elin in a single plane and the second belt trnve in in two planes, one parallel to and on a love with and the other at an angle to the line of travel of the first named belt, means for mshing buttons having flat bottoms off 1' 1e first named belt, permitting them to drop on the second belt and turn over while so doing, means for thereafter pushing buttonshaving rounded bottoms from the first bolt .to the second belt without turning them over.

12. In a machine for feeding buttons, the combination of a shaft, of a pair of pulleys thereon having different diameters, a belt 1 traveling horizontally from the one pulley, a. second belt traveling up an inclined nne from the second pulley to a level wit the first named belt and then forward parallel to said belt.

13; In a machine for feeding buttons the combination of a shaft, of a pair of pulleys thereon having different diameters, a belt traveling horizontally from the one pulley, a second belt traveling up an inclined lane from the second pulley to a. level with the first named belt and then forward parallel to said belt, means for pushing buttons from the first belt to the second belt, both at an intermediate oint of the inclined plane and-at the end 0 the inclined plane.

14. In a machine for feeding buttons, the combination of a shaft,of a pair of pulleys thereon having different diameters, a belt travelin horizontally from the one ul-ley, a. secon belt traveling up an inclined plane from the second pulley to a' level with the first named=belt and'then forward parallel to said belt, means for pushing buttons from the first belt tothe second belt, both at an intermediate oint'bfthe inclined planeand pulle a second belt traveling up an inclin plane from the secondpu ley to a 'level with the first named belt and then forward parallel to said belt, means for pushing buttons from the first belt to the.

second belt, both at an intermediate point of the inclined plane and at the end of the inclined lane, a deflecting finger at the end of the be ts for dividing the buttons carried by the belts.

16. In a machine for feeding buttons the combination of a shaft, of a pair of pulleys thereon having difi'erent diameters, a belt travelin horizontally from the one ulley, a see-om belt traveling up an incline lane from the second pulley to a level witi the first named belt and then forward parallel to said belt, means for pushing buttons from the first belt to the second belt, both at an intermediate ioint of the inclined plane and at the end 0 the inclined plane, a deflecting finger at the end of the belts for dividing the buttons carried by the belts, a chute ,on each side of said deflecting finger.

17. In a machine for feeding buttons the combination of an endless belt, a finger pro- 'ecting across said belt at approximately the eight of a single layer of blanks, a second finger projecting diagonally but partially across said belt, said second nger being held close to the u per surface of said belt to deflect the blan s to one side of said belt, a series of thin fingers projectinfig diagonally but op ositel to said second n ers across said be t and old close to the sur ace thereof todefieet part of the blanks back to the other side of said-belt, a guide forguiding the blanks not deflected by said series of fingers to the first named side of said belt, I endless belt to receive and convey all of the blanks so deflected to a predetermined place In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

' PHILIP EBY.

JAMES A. CARBON. Witnesses:

S. PARK HARMAN, JR,

MILTON NoYEs. 

